EP 154 Thru-Hiking France with Thomas Bouïssaguet of Hexatrek

The Hexatrek is a 3000 km long-distance trail that begins at the border of France and Germany just northwest of Stuttgart and runs through France across the Pyrenees mountains to the Atlantic ocean where it ends at the Bay of Biscay located at the Southwestern tip of France on the border with Spain.  In American terms, that means nearly 1900 miles of backpacking through the mountains of France.

Thomas works for the Hexatrek organization and spent the summer and fall of 2022 hiking and documenting the trail.

The focus of this episode is to get to know what the trail is and how it works so if you’re interested in hiking it one day like I am, you’ll know what to expect, but we also dive into a number of other topics as well.

Thomas is a regular guy like you and me who just so happens to love backpacking and the outdoors, but it’s not all he is.  He has an interesting backstory that allows him to reflect on his experiences in a way that’s honest and real.

Backpacking often gets the beauty filter treatment where people would prefer to only mention their love of everything wild rather than how they actually feel about certain aspects of the experience. I get why people omit tiring of a landscape and wishing for it all to be over so they can move on with life because it’s not sexy when you’re not balls to the wall excited about every little detail. But, if you’re only telling people about the amazing parts, then you’re short-changing whoever listens to you because you’re fabricating the entire experience.

Personal opinion here, but I prefer a little dirt mixed in with my glitter.

Thomas has the ability to recognize the realities of hiking a long trail like the Hexatrek and share all sides of that reality. He’ll describe the trail as an epic adventure that includes vineyards, castles, mountains, and stopping into a small village for a baguette or espresso, but he’ll also tell you how mentally complacent you can become when all you see are mountains and castles day after day after day. At some point, one view blends into the next and before long you’re not even noticing them anymore and you begin to feel bad about it

This is what I appreciate about Thomas, he gets it. He understands that the beauty in backpacking and life is about contrast.

If you’re dreaming of backpacking through France one day like I am, you’re going to love this episode and if you want to see the trail, Thomas is now beginning to upload a documentary series of his hike to YouTube so I’ll leave a link in the show notes for you to check that out when you have a chance. 

Enjoy!

Show Notes

Introduction to the Hexatrek

The Hexatrek backstory

European hiking culture and trail experience

Thru-hiking popularity in Europe

The importance of having a beginning and end

Hiking the Hexatrek vs an American long trail

Daily life and cadence of the trail

Making the hike your own

Visa considerations

Camping along the Hexatrek

Food along the Hexatrek 

Experiencing France by foot

Thomas’s backpacking story

The highs and lows of thru-hiking

Thoughts on losing reverence for an experience 

Life after the Hexatrek

Finding balance in life is actually finding contrast

The importance of gaining perspective through contrast 

What’s next for the Hexatrek (season 2) 

Why the name “Hexatrek” 

How to learn more about the Hexatrek 

Links

Website: https://en.hexatrek.com/

IG for Hexatrek: https://www.instagram.com/hexatrek/

Hexatrek Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LHexatrek/

IG for Thomas: https://www.instagram.com/cartapouille

Hexatrek Documentary: https://youtu.be/9qIlOONM8sY

In a Tent with a Frenchman Podcast:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-a-tent-with-a-french-man-a-daily-thru-hiking-journal/id1502733870

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0P8RD04n8UX0ubqwnFOvXj?si=b502ebfdafda4793

By Land Links

Learn How To Backpack: https://courses.byland.co/learnhowtobackpack

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChSSISEgIfwYz2cc0aHQj3g

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emory_by_land

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